Atomic scattering factors and atomic cross-sections in x-ray crystallography

Abstract

Crystallographers as well as other scientists and engineers need reliable sets of physical data. Focus is here set upon the x-ray attenuation coefficients (the atomic photoeffect cross-section, and the incoherent (Compton) and coherent (Rayleigh) scattering cross-sections) and the atomic scattering factor for x-ray. The purpose of this work is to give an overview of the actual state of the existing tabulations for the above mentioned fundamental quantities. Consequently the first part of the work comprises a brief history of the calculations for these fundamental data. The second part focuses on the essential databases. Along the process of assembling information about the existing databases, we have collected and stored the existing tabulations in a number of separate folders.